NATIONAL VIDEO

Man wanted in October shooting arrested following I-985 chase

Shamarcus Deunte Grimes

A suspect in an Oct. 30 shooting at Ridgecrest Apartments in Gainesville was arrested this past weekend, according to a Hall County Jail booking report.

Ronta Antonio Garner, 33, and another suspect, Shamarcus Deunte Grimes, both of Lawrenceville, had been wanted since the incident in which a then-22-year-old man was shot in the stomach at about 8:30 p.m. at the apartment complex in the 1600 block of Roper Hill Road.

Garner, believed to be a member of the 243 Bloods Gang, was arrested when Hall County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop him on Interstate 985 and he fled, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Deputy Nicole Bailes said.

She said Garner was on a motorcycle when a deputy attempted to stop him at I-985 Exit 16 at about 1:20 a.m. With the help of Gainesville police, Garner was caught and taken to the Hall County Jail.

He faces charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, possession of a gun by a felon and possession of a gun during the commission of a crime.

He now also faces numerous traffic charges: DUI of alcohol, speeding, fleeing and eluding, no license, no insurance, no tag, failure to maintain lane, ran red light, misdemeanor obstruction, driving with no helmet and reckless driving.

Gainesville police provided little information about the case on Monday.

“We obtained warrants based off of evidence. The county made the arrest based off of the warrants,” said Cpl. Kevin Holbrook, spokesman for the department.

“That is all the information I have at this time.”

Information about Grimes’ status was not available at press time. Grimes faces the same charges in relation to the shooting.

At the time of that incident, Gainesville police warned that the two men were armed and dangerous. Grimes is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall and 175 pounds.